Structural element



Feb

HTTYS R. m N 7 A 7 W; I. H In. I a ir m R Q m 7 R n n t m .n W m m m m E M m W n n April 20, 1954 c. E. VAN PELT STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed Sept. 9, 1948 Patented Apr. 2Q, 1954 UNITED STATE OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to building structures and structural elements.

One object of this invention is to provide a building structure which is built up of sheet metal structural members having provision for receiv- .ing nails or similar fasteners by which the metal members are held together, thereby eliminating the need for riveting, welding or bolting the structural members together and consequently eliminating the need for the skilled labor ordinarily required for erecting a building structure from metal structural members, such as structural steel.

Another object is to provide a building structure of the foregoing type wherein the various structural metal members are held together by connectors of T-shaped, Y-shaped or V-shaped form, particularly where a window frame is to be provided in the building structure.

Another object is to provide a building structure composed of rolled sheet metal structural members having nail-receiving grooves or troughs of zig-zag cross-section extending into the interior of the members, the bottom portions of the grooves being preferably secured to one another by welding or crimping.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a building structure, made up of structural members, according to a preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a structural member, according to a preferred form of the invention; 7 t

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of a modified structural member according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a left-hand end elevation of the modified structural members shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a further modified structural member according to the inven-- tion; and

Figure l is an end elevation of a still further modified structural member, as employed for a wider stud where greater strength is required or wider space is to be filled.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a portion or unit of a building structure,

generally designated 10 according to a preferred form of the invention as including spaced horizontal members or joists II and spaced vertical members or studs I 2. The studs l2 are shown as interconnected by upper and lower cross-members l3 which, for example, form a window frame in cooperation with the studs [2. The studs [2, joists I! and cross-members I3 are held together by connectors It as described below. Where it is necessary to brace the structural members obliquely or diagonally, such as by obliquebraces or knee members l5 (one only being shown), the latter are connected to the joists H and studs 12 by connectors [6 of approximately Y-shaped or V-shaped form, as also described below. While the portion [0 has been described as vertical and forming a portion of the sidewall framework of a building, it is obvious that the same portion may be mounted horizontally to form the floor, ceiling or roof framework.

The joists H and studs l2 are of similar form (Figures 2 and 3) and consist of hollow beams of approximately rectangular cross-section with inwardly-extending nail-receiving grooves or troughs H and I8 directed inwardly from opposite sides of the member II or l2. The opposite side walls l9 and 20 of the grooves or troughs I1 and i8 are of zig-zag cross-section so that their inner portions avoid conflicting with one another, although starting from opposite sides of the structural member and approximately in alignment with one another in their outer portions 2 l To provide this result, the intermediate portions 22 of the side walls l8 and I9 are inclined relatively to the outer portions 2 I, the inner portions 23 being bent back parallel with the outer portions 2!. The inner edges of the side walls) and 20 are inclined toward one another and secured to one another by welding as at 24.

To form the structural members H, [2, I3 01' I5, half members 25 and 26 of generally similar configuration are formed by rollingelongated strips of meta1 between forming rolls in a conventional rolling mill (not shown). In this manner, the side portions 21 of each member are rolled upward from the connecting portion or base portion 28 so as to form a channel-like member, the side wall portions [9 and 20 of the nailreceiving grooves or troughs l1 and 18 being rolled into position approximately parallel to one another yet slightly ofi-set to avoid interference. The half member 26 is formed in a similar mannerin a rolling mill, together with its base portion 29 and side portions to, the groove side wall portions is being formed by bending the free edges toward one another in an off-set manner similar to the formation or" the portions 26.

The half members 25 and 26 are then assembled by placing them side by side, as shown in Figure 2, so that their groove side walls 19 and 20 lie alongside one another, whereupon their inner meeting edges are welded or otherwise secured to one another as at 26. In order to secure the half members 25 and 26 additionally to one another, the gap between their side portions 2! and 30 is bridged at intervals by welded bridge members 3!. The joining of the side walls It and 20 in one of the grooves H or 18 may optionally be facilitated by spreading the sidewalls l9 and 20 of the other groove apartwhile the weld 24 is being made on one set of side walls. The Weld 2 5 is preferably continuous alone the inner edge.

In order to erect a building structure It), the necessary structural members such as the joists Hand studs i2 are placed in their proper relative positions, preferably on a horizontal surface such as the ground, and the connectors is or it placed in their necessary positions (Figure l). The connectors I4 are of T-shaped sheet metal and the connectors it of approximately Y-shaped or V-shaped sheet metal. Both are perforated at intervals as at 32 in order to receive nails or similar fasteners 33. The nail holes 32 of the connectors M or I 6 are lined up with the mouths of the grooves 11 or 8, whereupon nails 33 are inserted in the holes 32 and hammered into the grooves or troughs H or 18 by the use of ordinary hammers. In this manner an unskilled workman or a workman skilled only in the erection of wooden structures, such as a carpenter, can easily build up the structures It! in subassemblies which may then be raised vertically and joined with other units similarly made by means of similar connectors I 5.

In order to form a window frame, a pair of cross members l3 of similar construction to the studs l2 and joists H are mounted between the studs l2 and nailed into position by nails 33 inserted through the holes 32 in the manner previously described. If knee braces it are required, these are similarly inserted at their proper places by means of the Y-shaped or V.-shaped connectors l6 and nailed into place in. a manner similar to that described previously in connection with the T-shaped connectors M.

The erection of the building framework thus proceeds in the foregoing manner as each unit or structure it] is completed and raised or hoisted into position and secured by connectors M or IS. The siding on the outside of the building or wall board on the inside may then be nailed into position by means of nails hammered through the siding or boards, the points of the nails entering the grooves or troughs H or iii. In each case, as the nail passes into the groove or trough, it is bent laterally when it reaches the oblique portions 22 (Figure 2) and then is further bent when it reaches the portions 23 parallel to the outer portions 2!. Thiszig-zag bending of the nails-33 prevents their being withdrawn acci- 7 dentally or by the application of ordinary force.

The variousstructural members of the building are -thusjheld together. firmly and permanently .similar to the structural member i l shown in Figures 1 and 2, and similar parts are similarly designated. Instead of the welded connection 2% of the groove bottoms shown in Figure 2, how ever, in the modification of Figure 3 one of the side walls E9 or 20 is made of greater width than the other, so as to provide a bent-over portion 4!. The latter is bent around the edge oi the opposite side wall 28 or E9 and its free edge portion 43 clinched against the edge portion so as to firmly secure the parts together. The bridge members 3| are also welded at intervals along the mouth of the groove as in the case of the structural member I I in order to tie the corresponding halves 25 and 26 together.

The modified structural member generally designated'50, shown in Figures 4 and 5 of tubular construction wherein the main portion 55 is of circular or rather annular cross-section, the free edges being bent inward to form groove walls 52 and 53 of zig-zag cross-section. con sist of outer portions 54', obliquely bent inter mediate portions 55 and reversely bent inner portions 55, the inner edges of which are secured to one another as by welding continuously along theirjunction 51. Bridge members are also welded in position at intervals along the mouth of the groove or trough 59 in order to tie the groove walls 52 and 53 together.

The modified structural element Ed shown in Figure G-is somewhat similar to the structural member 50, similar parts of the groove walls and 53 being designated with similar reference numerals. In the modified structural mem er 60 however, the main portion 5! is of rectan lar cross section with a bottom or main wall side walls 63 and top walls (5%, the free which form the groove walls 52 and 53.

the same manner as the structural members and '50 previously described.

The modified structural member generally designated 10 shown in Figure '7 is generally similar to thestructural member I! shown in Figure except that'it is provided with wider sides 1 from which the nailing grooves or troughs inward. The structural member it is theref re of approximately square cross-section and is aecordingly of greater strength and will fill a wi space than the structural member l i which s of elongated or rectangular cross-section. Th nstallation and use of the structural memb is similar to that set forth in connection with the previously described forms of the invention.

What I claim is:

A hollow fabricated frame member comprising an elongated sheet metal tubular structure of approximately rectangular cross-section, said structure including a pair of elongated channel members disposed in spaced parallel relationship with their channels and flanges facing one another, the inner edges of the opposing flanges terminating short of one another with a gap between each pair of opposing flanges, a nailreceiving trough having opposite side walls integral withsaid inner edges and spanning each gap, saidtrough extending into the interior of said structure from said inner edges of said spaced opposing channel flanges, said trough having spaced opposite, side. Walls of zigzag crosssection, said trough side walls having spaced substantially parallel outer portions, spaced substantially parallel intermediate portions inclined at obtuse angles to said outer portions, and spaced substantially parallel inner portions disposed at obtuse angles to said intermediate portions and disposed approximately parallel to said outer portions, said inner portions having inner edges secured to one another, said inner portions being spaced laterally apart from one another and ofiset laterally relatively to their respective outer portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 1,906,096 Priddy Apr. 25, 1933 2,095,443 Jansen Oct. 12, 1937 2,171,540 Galkins et a1 Sept. 5, 1939 2,425,798 Hall Aug. 19, 1947 2,457,147 Hall Dec. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 743,672 France of 1933 OTHER REFERENCES Plate XXXV of C'arpenters Assistant by James Newlands. Published by Blackie 8: Son, London, England, 1860. 

